Recepta Takes Command in Noble Damsel

Proof that some things get better with age, the 4-year-old Recepta took command in the stretch to win the $200,000 Grade 3 Noble Damsel for turf fillies and mares Saturday at Belmont Park.

Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, Recepta was content to settle in fifth position mid-pack early on. Tracking pacesetters Ms. Frost and Marbre Rose through an opening quarter-mile in a solid 23.28 seconds, with the half going in 46.31, she improved her position to fourth before sweeping four wide on the turn to confront the leaders. Taking over with a furlong to go, Recepta held off a late bid from Lady Lara, to win by half a length.

"I had a perfect trip. Three or four horses went to the lead," said Trujillo. "At the three-eighths pole they started to stop and the horses next to me started putting pressure on them. When I turned for home, I asked her and she was gone. She's a very nice horse."

Recepta's winning time for the mile was 1:33:32.

"I think the key to her development this year is more maturity than anything," said trainer Jimmy Toner. "She was kind of washy and sort of flighty last year and couldn't take too much. We gave her the winter off and brought her back in the spring, and she's taken every step that we've wanted her to take. I was a little disappointed with her race in Monmouth, but what are you going to do? Since that time, she's responded to everything we've done."

"We'll probably come back in the Grade 3 Athenia [October 17, Belmont Park]," added Toner. "We mapped out a plan for her early on: the De La Rose, which was restricted - worked out perfect. We wanted to get a graded stake, this worked out perfect. She'll have two more starts this year, and if she comes back next year bigger and stronger I think she can develop into something special."

The victory was the second consecutive and first graded stakes score for the daughter of Speightstown, who entered the Noble Damsel off a 2 1/4-length win in the De La Rose on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course. This is the second Noble Damsel win for trainer Jimmy Toner and owners Phillips Racing Partnership and Pam Gartin, who also won the 2003 edition with multiple graded stakes winner, Wonder Again.

Sent off at 6-1, Recepta returned $14.60 as she extended her record to 5-0-3 from 11 lifetime starts. With the winner's purse of $120,000, Recepta enhanced her bankroll to $381,200.